Returning Value Blog

Remember that year-end planning is not just for individuals (see Seven Timely Tax Moves in 2016). In fact, your business operation may benefit from tax moves in 2016 in the wake of several key extensions in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. Here are five ideas for small-business owners to consider.

Understanding the Differences Can Help Voters Make Informed Choices

As we near the home stretch of this year’s presidential campaign, the din of July’s Republican and Democratic national campaigns seems like a distant memory. Indeed, the presidential race has taken so many unexpected twists and turns in the weeks since those two conventions, even jaded veteran political journalists are shaking their heads in disbelief.

Just in time to make a splash in advance of their national convention in Cleveland, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives released a 35-page tax reform report on June 24 that proposes fundamental changes in several significant areas. Among the most important changes are proposals to slash tax rates for corporations, pass-through businesses, and most individuals.

Although summer is traditionally the time for rest and relaxation, you can still “work on” your 2016 tax bill. What’s more, special tax incentives for individuals and small-business owners have been restored by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. Here are seven popular tax-saving ideas.

What to Look For

When was the last time you checked the beneficiaries you selected for your qualified retirement plan or IRA? Chances are that the choices you made when you initiated the account may no longer be appropriate. Anyone with funds in one or both of these accounts should have at least one beneficiary listed should anything happen to the owner.

As employers have increasingly turned to high-deductible healthcare plans to offset sharp increases in employees’ healthcare plan costs, some employees have taken advantage of available Health Savings Accounts (HSA) as a way to manage these high deductions. Similar to an IRA, employees contribute a certain percentage of their pay through pre-tax deductions that accumulate tax-free until the money is spent on approved medical costs.

As a savvy business owner and/or financial professional, you understand the importance of cutting taxes to maximize the success of your business. As trusted business advisors, we understand the importance of uncovering every possible legal deduction available that you should be considering.  

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President Signs Extenders and Omnibus Acts, Impacting Broad Range of Provisions

Just before recessing for the holidays, the House and Senate passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act). President Obama signed the Act and a FY 2016 omnibus on December 18.

As 2015 draws to a close, the time to consider tax-saving opportunities for you and/or your business is before year-end. Individual income taxes, whether paid through employer withholding or quarterly estimates, are probably one of your largest annual expenditures. You may want to consider opportunities to reduce or defer your annual tax obligation. Also, if you own a business, some opportunities for your business may apply regardless of whether your business is conducted as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, S corporation, or regular corporation. Other opportunities may apply only to a particular type of business organization. These Tax Planning Letters are intended to assist you in your individual and business tax planning efforts.